Is the manufacturer cabinet company not furnishing the molding? The GC isn't sourcing it from somewhere else, or trying to 3rd party site color match a factory finish?

Or were the cabinets site painted with an oil based paint, which yellows? Or an modified oil base trim paint, Like Advance or Emerald?

It's actually the cabinet maker. He has a painter. He dropped off the cabinets at the paint shop. I don't know what type paint is used. The cabinets were painted first and the crown molding was painted much later. I don't know why they didn't paint everything all at once. Now I'm starting to wonder if they are trying to 3rd party site color match as you mentioned. 🤔

So to clarify the cabinets are custom? No final check until he matches. I suspect he ran out of expensive Italian conversion lacquer at $100/ gallon and is trying for good enough from a paint store since it won’t be touched. But I’m just guessing.

My cabinet maker painted the cabinets, cove and any other parts, in his shop, all in the same cabinet paint, that was color matched to BM Chantilly Lace. Everything matches perfectly.

Don't settle.

Send it back for a third time. No need to cave in because of someone else's mistakes. Sorry this has dragged on for so long. They are probably hoping you are so sick of waiting that you will say, ok I'll just take what you have. They made cabinets and toe kicks correctly. The need to make the crown correctly too. Make no more payments to anyone for anything until you have the correct crown color and it is correctly installed. (I refused to pay my GC when my cabinets were not installed correctly. He didn't install them. One of his subs installed them. Let them fight it out and make it right.)

FInd out what they finished it in. Because if they used something like Advance, the stuff already in your home has probably yellowed, and will never match a fresh batch. And if it's actual pro grade cabinet finish, they may not want to buy another $200 gallon to finish off the job, and are trying to stretch some dregs out. Which never works.

" I suspect he ran out of expensive Italian conversion lacquer at $100/ gallon and is trying for good enough from a paint store since it won’t be touched. But I’m just guessing. "

Sounds like the correct guess to me @HALLETT & Co.

Professionally painted cabinets get yellow this quickly? What is my best option then? They would have to repaint the cabinets and crown moulding? I Also noticed paint cracking right away after installation. I notified the cabinet maker immediately

after noticing. He then said they will look at it. 2 months later, they still haven't done a thing about it.

What's the story with the cabinets?

They look like they were refaced where thin wood (or plywood/mdf) was attached then routed and the corners were not cleaned up. That would explain why the cracks are away from the corners.

The finish also looks bad. It should be smooth, not bumpy.

Ask what finish was used -- the exact products and process.

@HALLETT & Co. I think they made real cheap cabinets. It doesn't seem to be a solid piece of wood. I can't tell for sure but I think they used layers of plywood. I have a cut piece of the toe kick. Or, the paint job is terrible. And, yes, we still owe a final payment.

Toe kick is almost always plywood so I won’t diss them based on that but the weird cabinet construction and inability to match color is odd.

@PPF, yes the patches on the ceiling need to be repainted. The subcontractor did a horrible job with holes repair. My handyman had to squeeze us in last minute notice to do the repairs the right way. Painting will be done later.

@PPF., those cabinets are new. So I can only assume that it's terrible craftsmanship. Cracks were there on delivery day. I understand that cracks will occur but, it's strange that they are not at the seams.

Could you go back 9 months and give an overview of what's happened.

I'm interested in the cabinets specifically, and the project in general.

If the tops are not on, post a few images showing the base cabinet construction from a more top down view, and one from the inside looking at the edge like the arrow shows.

Does your contract contain any specifics on the cabinet construction/materials?

I'd like to understand how this was assembled.

@PPF., this is what I have before countertops were installed. The last picture is an upper cabinet. The cabinet maker is a local business, not a big name one.

Thanks for the pictures.

The cabinetmaker is a hack and you have been taken advantage of.

As you said above, it's terrible craftsmanship.

I'm certain you want to to wrap up this project, and probably do not want to fight this, but to me, those cabinets are unacceptable.